Electrician Job Description

What do Electricians do?

Virtually every building has an electrical system, and electricians are responsible for installing and maintaining those systems.

When installing or repairing an electrical system, electricians often rely on diagrams created by electrical drafters to identify the location of circuits, outlets, and other equipment. By consulting the diagrams, they ensure that the equipment is installed correctly, while reducing the chance of personal injury and unnecessary damage to the building.

Though electricians may work in many different environments, there are really only two classifications of electricians: residential electricians and inside electricians.

Inside electricians work on larger equipment, like motors and electrical systems that control factories. These electricians often perform regular maintenance to identify and prevent major problems before they can hurt the business or cause harm to employees.

Work Environment and Schedule

Electricians work at construction sites, homes, factories, businesses, and anywhere else that electrical work needs to be performed. Because they may visit multiple customers in the same day, frequent travel is required of those who work in this occupation.

This can be a dangerous occupation, but good electricians take many safety precautions to keep the risk of injury at a minimum. While electrical shock is the most obvious risk, constant kneeling and frequent lifting also contribute to many injuries on the job. Staying in good physical shape can help minimize such injuries.

Most electricians work full time, and often work overtime. Since most businesses can’t operate without electricity, an electrician may be called on at any time of day to fix a problem.

Electricians who work in construction may also need to work long hours to ensure that projects finish on time.

Electrician Salaries

Overall Salaries

Electrician salaries can vary depending on your experience, the location, company, industry, and benefits provided. Nationwide, most electricians make between $36,600 – $63,900 per year, or $17.61 – $30.71 per hour.

Architects income is on average higher than many other occupations. It is one of the highest paying jobs. The median annual wage is around $76,000. The median annual wage for the lowest paying architect jobs is around $46,100; this income is more than the median annual wage for all occupations, which right now stands at $36,200.